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Health care providers’ handbook on Muslim patients
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1.Food beliefs
2.Holy days
Islam has rules about the types of food which are
permissible (halal) and those which are prohibited
(haram) for Muslims.
The two major festivals in the Islamic calendar are Id
al-Fitr and Id al-Adha. Like festivals in other religions,
these are a time for family reunion and special religious
services. Muslim patients may wish to visit their homes
during these times.
The main prohibited foods are pork and its by-products,
alcohol, animal fats, and meat that has not been
slaughtered according to Islamic rites.
While most prohibited foods are easy to identify, there
are some foods which are usually halal that may contain
ingredients and additives that can make them haram.
For example, foods made with vanilla essence are
considered prohibited because vanilla essence contains
alcohol. Other foods such as ice cream may contain pork
by-products such as gelatine, which is considered haram.
A table outlining halal and haram foods is located in
section three. More information can be accessed from
the Islamic Council of Queensland. See section three for
contact details.
The holy month of Ramadhan is a spiritual month during
which most Muslims fast. However, the young, old or sick
are excused from fasting if it could be detrimental to their
health.
Ramadhan is the ninth month in the Islamic year, which
follows a lunar calendar.
Friday is a significant day to Muslims and a special prayer
is performed at noon.
A religious calendar is published in the Queensland
Health Multicultural Clinical Support Resource folder.
www.health.qld.gov.au/multicultural/support_tools/mcsr.asp
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3.Fasting
Fasting is an integral part of Islam and is seen as a
means of purifying the body and the soul. While fasting
during the month of Ramadhan is compulsory for all
healthy, adult Muslims, Islam also prescribes other days
which Muslims may choose to observe a voluntary fast.
During Ramadhan, Muslims are not permitted to eat or
drink anything, including water, from dawn until dusk.
It is a practice for Muslims to consume a pre-dawn meal
before fasting during the day.
Each individual is responsible for deciding whether to
fast. Pregnant, breastfeeding or menstruating women,
people who are experiencing a temporary illness and
travellers are exempted from fasting, but must make up
for the fast at a later date.
The following will break the fast:
• ear and nose drops
• suppositories and pessaries
• inhaled medications.
Diabetes Australia has a comprehensive guide for health
care workers on fasting and diabetes titled Diabetes and
fasting for Muslims: A resource for health professionals.
www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/en/Living-with-Diabetes/
Eating-Well/Diabetes--Fasting
A religious calendar showing the start and end of
Ramadhan is published in the Queensland Health
Multicultural Clinical Support Resource folder.
www.health.qld.gov.au/multicultural/support_tools/mcsr.asp
4.Dress
A person experiencing an ongoing illness is exempted
from fasting and may offer fidyah (provide a meal to the
poor) as an alternative.
Islam requires both men and women to dress modestly
when in public or in the presence of non-family members
of the opposite sex.
A fasting person may take the following medications/
treatments without breaking their fast:
For Muslim men, this usually means keeping the area
between the navel and the knees covered, and for
Muslim women, only the face, hands and feet are usually
left exposed. This standard may not be followed by all
Muslims. Some interpret the requirement for modesty
to mean dressing modestly relative to the norms of the
surrounding society.
• injections and blood tests
• medications absorbed through the skin
• gargling (as long as no liquid is swallowed).
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Health care providers’ handbook on Muslim patients
The requirement for modesty can affect health care as
some patients may be reluctant to expose their bodies
for examination or to expose areas not directly affected.
Some female patients may prefer a family member to be
present during an examination.
5. Mental health and/or cognitive
dysfunction
A person diagnosed as having a cognitive dysfunction,
such as a severe mental illness or an intellectual
disability, is absolved from all the obligatory
requirements in Islam. For example, they are not required
to say prayers, fast or perform their pilgrimage.
Further information about the permissibility of
transplants and organ donations is available from the
Council of Imams Queensland. See section three for
contact details.
8.Sexual and reproductive health
Contraception
Muslims are permitted to use temporary contraceptive
methods under certain conditions.
However, permanent contraceptive methods such as
vasectomy and tubal ligation are only allowed where the
woman’s health is at risk from additional pregnancies.
The patient’s immediate or extended family is usually
responsible for the patient.
Abortion
Further information about mental health care for
multicultural communities can be accessed through the
Queensland Transcultural Mental Health Centre.
www.health.qld.gov.au/pahospital/qtmhc
Under Islam, a foetus is considered alive after 120 days
gestation. Abortion is not permitted after this time unless
the pregnancy constitutes a serious threat to the life of
the mother.
6. Embryo experimentation and
stem cell research
Abortion is permitted prior to 120 days under certain
circumstances. For example, in the case of foetal
abnormalities, when there is a serious health risk for the
mother, or when pregnancy has occurred as a result
of rape.
Embryo experimentation, genetic testing and stem
cell research are acceptable in Islam under certain
conditions.
Stem cell research may only be conducted on stem cells
that are derived from:
• frozen embryos that were created for the purpose of
in vitro fertilisation and would otherwise have been
destroyed
• adults.
Genetic testing and gene manipulation is acceptable for
therapeutic purposes only.
7.Transplants and organ donation
There are strong views among Muslims about the
permissibility of transplants and organ donation. Some
Muslims view these procedures as acceptable and others
believe they are unacceptable.
Second edition
Abortion is not permitted on the basis of family planning.
Female genital mutilation
(female circumcision)
Female genital mutilation is not mandated or condoned
by Islam and is illegal in Queensland.
Female genital mutilation comprises all procedures
involving partial or total removal of the female external
genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs,
whether for cultural or other non-therapeutic reasons.
Further information about female genital mutilation is
available in the Queensland Health Multicultural Clinical
Support Resource folder.
www.health.qld.gov.au/multicultural/support_tools/mcsr.asp
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ervices
Assisted reproductive technologies
The use of assisted reproductive technologies is generally
permitted in Islam.
However, there are some techniques and practices that
are not permitted:
• the use of donor sperm is strictly prohibited
• the use of sperm that has been cryopreserved is
prohibited if the father has died
• surrogacy is not permitted.
9.Death and dying
Muslims believe that death has been predestined by
God. As a result, Muslims will often be accepting of death
and illness.
Islam does not require treatment to be provided to a
Muslim patient if it merely prolongs the final stages of a
terminal illness.
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Under these circumstances it is permitted to disconnect
life supporting systems even though some organs
continue to function automatically (e.g. the heart) under
the effect of the supporting devices.
Suicide and euthanasia
Islam considers human life sacred and suicide and
euthanasia are forbidden.
However, if a patient is suffering from a terminal
condition and has been assessed as having no hope of
recovery, it is permitted to stop medical treatment.
Grieving and bereavement
In Islam, public grief is allowed for only three days. This
period allows for non-family members to visit and offer
their condolences. After that period, the family is left to
grieve privately.
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Health care providers’ handbook on Muslim patients